The Sokoto Book and Arts Festival (SOBAFest) has announced the return of the Queen Amina Short Story Prize. The literary competition continues to champion African women’s narratives and elevate emerging voices in Northern Nigeria.

Organized by Book O’Clock and The Poetry Club UDUS, SOBAFest has established itself as a cornerstone of Northern Nigeria’s literary landscape. The Queen Amina Short Story Prize, inspired by the legendary Hausa warrior queen Amina of Zazzau, is dedicated to spotlighting bold, imaginative, and powerful short fiction featuring women and gender-related issues across Northern Nigeria and beyond.

By choosing this year’s theme, “Intersectionality,” the organizers seek stories that navigate the tension between meeting points—narratives of girls and women whose lives intersect across multiple identities and whose realities reflect the complexity of contemporary girlhood and womanhood. Writers are invited to interpret this theme freely, allowing for diverse perspectives and creative approaches to these complex social dynamics.

Submission Requirements and Guidelines

The competition is open exclusively to girls and women residing in Sokoto. Submissions must be original, unpublished short stories of up to 1,000 words featuring a strong female character. Writers should submit their work in docx format to [email protected], with the subject line formatted as “Submission for Queen Amina Short Story Prize—[Title of your story].”

The winner receives ₦50,000 and publication, while second place earns ₦30,000 and publication, and third place receives ₦20,000 and publication. Additionally, shortlisted entries will be considered for honorary mention, ensuring that exceptional work receives recognition even beyond the top three positions.

Writers interested in participating should note the approaching deadline: submissions close on August 13, 2025.

For more information and updates, follow @soba_fest on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), or contact [email protected] directly.